Words of mouth
Mon, 29 Oct 2012, 06:03 pmJohnny Grim29 posts in thread
Words of mouth
Mon, 29 Oct 2012, 06:03 pmLogging on this site today for my daily look see, I see yet another crtically acclaimed show alomost pleading with people to come see. Having had our own share of disappointing audiences, one is left to wonder why people don't come along, especially when the show is publically acclaimed. To that end, I did a little survey of those folk who take the trouble to email / facebook or text their congratulations (thankfully there was enough to make the survey viable.) Having received their praise for the show, I asked them the following questions.
1: Having seen and enjoyed the show, had they taken the trouble to recommend the production to others?
ANS: NINE out of eleven, confessed they hadn't.
2: I asked if that they'd seen a 'professional' production at Burswood or the Heath Ledger Theatre would they be likely to tell others of it?
ANS: EIGHT out of the eleven confessed they probably would.
My conclusions to the above are:
A: Theatre patrons being the lavish lot we are, love to name drop..'Oh yes, I was at the Heath Ledger the other day, saw a marvellous show blah blah blah...'
B: We 'Non professional' / Community / Independent Theatre Groups are possibly seen as the poor relation, or in such a good financial state we don't require bums on seats.
Fascinating really. Even more fascinating in my case, when the people interviewed, know how we operate (trust me, there's no skin left on my teeth.) Surely, the question must beg, (and I've dared to touch on this before) is what can we do collectively (going it alone to me would seem to be a tiny voice in the wilderness) to have people 'Amway' our shows in the same way they would ANNIE or THE JERSEY BOYS...? I know there's no magic wand, our own fairy has been waving her wand so enthusiastically this past two weeks the poor love has put in a claim for RSI...
Footnote: In several conversations with theatre people this week, audience numbers were touched upon, and sadly there was a general (almost accepted) view that audiences are dwindling, particulary for, dare I say original /lesser known productions. As a theatre lover, I have trouble with accepting our future demise (not for me of course but for those youngsters who share the same passion.) Perhaps we need employ a guru.
Position vacant. Theatre Resource Technical Solution Forecasting Administrator
Not a bad title really, I'd love to drop that one next time I'm at the 'Ledge.'
The up the road from the Mersey boy
I REALLY like that idea of
Sun, 4 Nov 2012, 02:18 amI REALLY like that idea of making the tickets for the final night of a show a bit more expensive......
It's interesting to note that a lot of the 'clubs', 'groups' etc are having the same audience issues. I for one feel like banging my head against a wall when everyone waits to come to the last night of a run and will happily sit right at the back of the hall, when no amount of begging will get people to support an opening weekend when they could be sitting at the front!!!!!! AAAAARRRRGH!!!!!! I find it especially annoying when we have worked hard for years to get beyond the old 'amateur theatrics' curse - the perception that you won't get as good a show on opening night as you will on the last weekend.
My mission in life the last three years has been trying really hard to promote a culture where all the local theatre minded folk support the opening couple of shows to help get the word out there, and the back end of the season usually then takes care of itself, through recommendations, or just those people who habitually book late, just in time to not miss out!
Our "Early bookings" scheme used to sell 80% of our tickets, for a modest discount ($17 instead of $20), but these days we find our door sales account for a much larger slice of the pie than they did a decade ago. A young acquaintance said to me a few years back that the advent of texts and social media meant people can now be a lot more last minute about things and still have some success whipping up a group of friend to go out with, and I think that's the truth. Scary though, as a director, or as a producer with your own company, when you have to pray for door sales to boost the crowd each night, I can't help but hanker for the old days when everyone pre-booked.............